previous year1969
1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
1980next year

Major Events of September 1971: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from September 1971 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of September 1971: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Sep 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates Make MLB History with All-Black Lineup: The Pittsburgh Pirates made groundbreaking sports history by fielding the first all-black lineup in Major League Baseball, featuring legendary players Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell. This moment was a powerful statement in the ongoing civil rights movement and baseball's integration.
  • 02 Sep 1971 Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors Win US Open Debuts: Tennis prodigies Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors made their mark at the US Open, winning their first professional matches and signaling the emergence of two future tennis legends who would dominate the sport in the 1970s.
  • 03 Sep 1971 Watergate Scandal Escalation: The Watergate team breaks into Daniel Ellsberg's doctor's office, further escalating the controversial political espionage and surveillance activities.
  • 04 Sep 1971 Alaska Airlines Flight 1866 Tragic Mountain Crash: A Boeing 727 carrying Alaska Airlines Flight 1866 crashed into the side of Chilkoot Mountain near Juneau, Alaska, resulting in the complete loss of all 111 passengers and crew on board. This devastating aviation disaster remains one of the most significant air tragedies in Alaskan history.
  • 05 Sep 1971 Tragic Alaskan 727 Plane Crash: A devastating plane crash in the Chilkoot Mountains of Alaska results in the loss of 109 lives, marking one of the deadliest aviation accidents of the year.
  • 06 Sep 1971 Paninternational Flight 112 Tragic Crash: On September 6, 1971, Paninternational Flight 112 experienced a catastrophic crash on the Bundesautobahn 7 highway near Hamburg Airport in Germany. The accident resulted in the tragic loss of 22 lives, marking a significant aviation disaster for the region. The crash occurred in a populated area, potentially increasing the risk of ground casualties and highlighting the critical importance of aviation safety protocols.
  • 07 Sep 1971 Brazil-Portugal Equality Statute: Brazil and Portugal signed a landmark Equality Statute, establishing a unique bilateral agreement that grants Brazilian residents in Portugal and Portuguese residents in Brazil nearly equivalent rights to citizens. This diplomatic accord represents a significant milestone in the historical and cultural relationship between the two nations, reflecting their shared linguistic and colonial heritage.
  • 08 Sep 1971 Attica Prison Uprising Begins: On September 8, 1971, a critical incident at Attica Correctional Facility in New York sparked one of the most significant prison rebellions in American history. What began as a misunderstanding between a guard, Lt. Richard Mulroney, and an inmate, Ray Lamorie, escalated into a full-scale uprising. This event would become a pivotal moment in discussions about prison conditions, racial tensions, and systemic inequalities within the U.S. correctional system.
  • 09 Sep 1971 Attica Prison Riot: A significant prison uprising at Attica Correctional Facility in New York, where prisoners seized control of the prison and took 42 staff members hostage. The four-day riot was a powerful protest against systemic prison conditions and a demand for political and human rights. The conflict tragically ended with 39 people dead, most killed during the state troopers' violent retaking of the prison.
  • 10 Sep 1971 KVUE TV channel 24 in Austin, TX (ABC) begins broadcasting
  • 11 Sep 1971 Egypt Adopts New Constitution: Egypt officially adopted a new constitution, marking a significant moment in the country's political development and governance structure.
  • 12 Sep 1971 Stan Smith Wins First Grand Slam at US Open: American tennis player Stan Smith secured his first Grand Slam title at the US Open, defeating Czech star Jan Kodeš in a thrilling four-set match with scores of 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6. This victory marked a significant milestone in Smith's professional tennis career.
  • 13 Sep 1971 Attica Prison Uprising: On September 13, 1971, state police and National Guardsmen launched a violent assault on New York's Attica Correctional Facility to end a four-day prisoner rebellion. The confrontation resulted in the tragic deaths of 42 people, including inmates and hostages, marking one of the most significant prison uprisings in U.S. history.
  • 14 Sep 1971 Soviet Lunar Rover Lunokhod 1 Mission Ends: The Soviet Union's lunar rover Lunokhod 1 permanently ceased transmission, marking the conclusion of its mission ten months after successfully making a soft landing on the Moon's surface. This mission represented a significant milestone in lunar exploration during the Space Race.
  • 15 Sep 1971 Greenpeace's First Protest Voyage Against Nuclear Testing: The first Greenpeace ship departed from Vancouver, Canada, on a historic mission to protest the upcoming Cannikin nuclear weapon test in Alaska, marking a significant moment in environmental activism and anti-nuclear movement.
  • 16 Sep 1971 Ku Klux Klan School Bus Bombing Arrests: Six members of the Ku Klux Klan were arrested in connection with the bombing of ten school buses, highlighting racial tensions and domestic terrorism in the early 1970s United States.
  • 18 Sep 1971 First Cup Noodle Launched by Momofuku Ando: Momofuku Ando revolutionized instant food technology by introducing Cup Noodles, packaging instant ramen in a convenient, waterproof polystyrene container. This innovative design allowed consumers to prepare and eat noodles directly from the cup by simply adding hot water, transforming quick meal preparation worldwide.
  • 19 Sep 1971 Hurricane Irene-Olivia Strikes Nicaragua: Hurricane Irene-Olivia made landfall in Nicaragua, causing significant destruction. The hurricane destroyed 96 homes and left approximately 1,200 people homeless, demonstrating the devastating impact of tropical cyclones in Central America.
  • 20 Sep 1971 Hurricane Irene/Olivia: First Atlantic to Pacific Hurricane Crossing: On September 20, 1971, Hurricane Irene made meteorological history by becoming the first known hurricane to cross from the Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific Ocean. After initially weakening upon making landfall in Nicaragua, the storm regained sufficient strength to be renamed Hurricane Olivia, marking an unprecedented meteorological event.
  • 21 Sep 1971 Pakistan Declares State of Emergency: On September 21, 1971, Pakistan officially declared a state of emergency, signaling significant political tension and potential internal or external challenges facing the nation.
  • 22 Sep 1971 OPEC Strategizes Oil Price Negotiations: The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) instructed its member states to collectively negotiate oil price increases in response to the US dollar's devaluation. This decision signaled OPEC's emerging economic power and its ability to influence global energy markets by coordinating pricing strategies.
  • 23 Sep 1971 John Vermeers painting The liefdesbrief stolen
  • 24 Sep 1971 Mass Expulsion of Soviet Diplomats from Britain: The United Kingdom expelled 90 Russian diplomats suspected of espionage activities, marking a significant diplomatic confrontation during the Cold War era. This mass expulsion highlighted the ongoing intelligence tensions between the UK and the Soviet Union.
  • 25 Sep 1971 John Lynch - NFL Player and Broadcaster: John Lynch, an accomplished American football player who later became a respected sportscaster, was born on September 25, 1971. He played safety in the NFL and is known for his successful career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos.
  • 26 Sep 1971 Rashad al-Shawwa Appointed Mayor of Gaza City: Rashad al-Shawwa, a popular Egyptian Arab, was appointed as Mayor of Gaza City by the Israeli military government on September 26, 1971. This appointment occurred during a complex period of Israeli administration in the Gaza Strip following the 1967 Six-Day War.
  • 27 Sep 1971 Tripartite Talks on Northern Ireland: On September 27, 1971, a critical diplomatic meeting took place at Chequers, England, involving the prime ministers of Northern Ireland, Britain, and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland to discuss ongoing political tensions and potential resolutions.
  • 28 Sep 1971 UK Misuse of Drugs Act Bans Medicinal Cannabis: The United Kingdom passes the Misuse of Drugs Act, which comprehensively bans the medicinal use of cannabis, marking a significant shift in drug policy and medical treatment approaches.
  • 29 Sep 1971 Deadly Cyclone in Bay of Bengal: A catastrophic cyclone and tidal wave struck the Bay of Bengal, causing massive loss of life with an estimated 10,000 fatalities. This natural disaster devastated coastal communities and highlighted the region's vulnerability to extreme weather events.
  • 30 Sep 1971 US-Soviet Nuclear Risk Reduction Agreement: On September 30, 1971, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Agreement on Measures To Reduce the Risk of Outbreak of Nuclear War in Washington, D.C. This significant diplomatic accord came into force immediately, representing a crucial step in Cold War de-escalation and nuclear risk management between the two superpowers.